No doubt at this point that you’ve heard of large language model (LLM) tools like ChatGPT and Bard AI in the news or from a friend. AI tools are only beginning to transform how businesses operate. But you might be wondering if these tools have any applicable uses for a food truck business or restaurant. Well I’m here to inform you there are all sorts of ways to use these new tools to get work done faster inside your business.

Built by M&R Specialty Trailers and Trucks.

Responding to negative to positive or negative comments: LLMs can be trained to identify negative comments, such as those that complain about food quality, service, or cleanliness of a food truck. Once a comment is identified, the LLM can be used to generate a response that addresses the customer’s concerns and attempts to resolve the issue.

As we all know, every food business will get a poor review from a customer that’s having a bad day from time to time. Tools like ChatGPT can take the emotion out of responding to these comments and ensure responses are written in a professional and consistent manner.

Social Media Marketing: One of the most time consuming tasks for a food truck owner can be finding the time to do social media. After all, recording videos, writing captions, and publishing videos  or photos online can be a full-time job all by itself. Fortunately, AI is making it easier for small businesses like food trucks to publish high-quality content in video format. Check out the tool VEED.io that will allow you to publish, transcribe, and edit video more efficiently with help from AI.

Providing customer support: LLMs can also be used to provide customer support. For example, if a customer asks a question about the food truck’s menu, the LLM can be used to generate a response that provides the requested information.

Menu Creation: AI can help create a unique menu for your food truck. In the example below, I asked Bard AI (a free service you can sign up for from Google in the United States) to make me a menu for a fried chicken food truck. The tool gave me a list of appetizers, sandwiches, sides, and desserts I could offer.

fried chicken menu prompt

A sample menu for a fried chicken food truck created by Bard AI.

I’ve also used this tool to describe menu items for me. Try adding prompts like “Provide 2 sentences about a chicken sandwich with mayo, pickles, red onions, and a sesame seed bun like a copywriter.” Try entering different prompts until you find a description you like. It’s like having an unpaid copywriter on staff.

Marketing Assets: LLMs can also be used to promote the food truck and come up with unique marketing slogans and taglines. Here are a couple suggestions that Bard AI from Google came up with for a marketing slogan for a Thai food truck:

  • Thai food that will tantalize your taste buds.
  • Authentic Thai cuisine made with fresh ingredients.
  • A taste of Thailand, right here in your city.

Everyone one of the examples listed above can serve as a strong starting point for a marketing campaign.

Naming Your Food Truck: If you’re just getting started in the mobile food industry ChatGPT can help you find a catchy name idea. All you need to do is submit the following prompt: Give me a list of 10 unique food truck name ideas. Viola, you’ll get a list of suggestions like this in less than 10 seconds.

  1. The Smokin’ Pig
  2. The BBQ Pit Stop
  3. The Cue-nique Truck
  4. The BBQ Joint
  5. The Smokehouse
  6. The Brisket King
  7. The Rib Shack
  8. The Pork Palace
  9. The Chicken Shack
  10. The Sausage Station

Pro Tip: If you want more customized names, provide these tools with the type of menu you plan to serve (burgers, soup, waffles, etc.). This will help the tool come up with suggestions that are more relevant to your menu.

Are you using AI tools yet?

LLM’s and other tools are becoming a powerful tool that can be used to improve the efficiency of a food truck business. By automating tasks, these tools can free up staff to focus on other important tasks, such as cooking, preparing food or booking catering clients.

Have you started testing tools like ChatGPT and Bard AI in your business? This is certainly not an exhaustive list of uses. Since the technology is still so new, I’m still figuring out all the potential uses myself. If so, I’d love to know how you are using the tools by reaching out to us on social media.